industry’s
actions to
responsibly
meet
society’s
needs:
Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Thermal Insulation
and Other Applications
The Alliance
for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
GWP-weighted Production (million tons carbon dioxide equivalent)
Reduced GWP Impact
of Fluorocarbons1
9000
Sum CFCs
Sum HCFCs
8000
Sum HFCs
7000
1
Alternative Fluorocarbons
Environmental Acceptability
Study (AFEAS), 2007
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
’80
’85
’90
’95
’00
’05
Actions taken under the Montreal Protocol have led to the replacement of CFCs with
HCFCs, HFCs, and other substances and processes. Because replacement species generally have lower
Global Warming Potentials (GWPs), and because total halocarbon emissions have decreased, their
combined CO2-equivalent (direct GWP-weighted) emission has been reduced. The combined
CO2-equivalent emissions of CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs derived from atmospheric observations decreased
from about 7.5 ± 0.4 GtCO2-eq per year around 1990 to 2.5 ± 0.2 GtCO2-eq per year around 2000, equivalent
to about 33% and 10%, respectively, of the annual CO2 emissions due to global fossil fuel burning. 2
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC / Montreal Protocol Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP)
Special Report, 1995
2
there is no
single ideal
compound
for all
applications.
Current and future options will strike a balance
between energy efficiency, environmental impact, and
consumer benefit—each with its own trade-offs based
on application requirements.
The fluorocarbon-producing and -using industries have contributed greatly to the
success of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
and is continuing this progress through the development of new compounds
and technologies to enhance quality of life while at the same time minimizing
environmental impacts on the stratospheric ozone layer and the climate. Over the
years, this industry has improved technology in food-preserving refrigeration, air
conditioning, and insulation systems, as well as in technical aerosols, metered dose
inhalers, and other applications. The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy (Alliance) supports a planned,
orderly global phasedown of substances with high global warming potentials
(GWPs), improved application energy efficiency, leakage reduction, and recovery/
reuse or destruction at application end-of-life. The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
3
ODP
GWP
99% 90%
Reduction
ODP1
GWP2
~1.0
4,750–14,400
OZONE DEPLETION POTENTIAL
GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIAL
CFCs
HCFCs
HFCs
0
124–4,470
HFOs/HCs
CO2/ammonia
0
<20
0.055 – 0.11
77–2,310
Transitions from
CFCs to HCFCs
to HFCs to HFOs
and other low GWP
alternatives have
significantly reduced
both the ODP and
GWP impacts.
In the chart listings, the ODP
was reduced to zero and
the GWP was reduced to
less than 1% of the original
CFC. More importantly,
refrigeration and other
applications energy efficiency
continues to improve
approximately 1% per year,
despite transitions in fluid
alternatives.
The major suppliers reduced
(1988 peak to 2007) ODP
production by 99% and GWP
by 90% when alternatives
were introduced3.
1
ODPs from Handbook for Montreal Protocol
on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer,
Eighth edition (2009), p25-27
GWPs from Scientific Assessment of Ozone
Depletion 2010, pages 5.47-5.49
2
Alternative Fluorocarbons Environmental
Acceptability Study (AFEAS), 2007
3
Applications
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were developed in the late 1920s. A decade later, in the 1930s,
hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-22 was invented for refrigeration systems. Concerns about ozone
depletion were raised in the 1970s and 1980s, and, in response, the Montreal Protocol rapidly
phased out CFCs and established a timetable for reducing HCFCs. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) were
commercialized in the 1990s as non-ozone-depleting alternatives to CFCs and HCFCs.
Refrigeration &
Air Conditioning
Over the past four decades, the most
widely used chemicals for refrigeration
and air conditioning have been CFC-11,
CFC-12, HCFC-22 and ammonia. The
establishment of a timetable for the
phaseout of HCFCs led to HFCs, and
industry is now developing fourth
generation hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs).
Today, HFCs have replaced CFCs and
HCFCs in many refrigeration and air
conditioning applications.
a century ago. Newly developed HFO
refrigerants are being deployed in
mobile air conditioning and are being
evaluated in other applications.
Each application’s characteristics
determine the best refrigerant or
fluid. Choice and fluid flexibility
maximize energy efficiency,
minimize environmental impacts and
emphasize safety where needed.
Hydrocarbons are being widely used
in refrigerators and small charge
appliances. Ammonia continues to be
used in larger facilities and CO2 has
shown some recent growth, although
in fairly complex systems compared
to those in which the fluid was used
thermal
insulation
Other
Applications
Foam products include extruded
polystyrene (XPS), polyisocyanurate
(PIR) and polyurethane (PUR) foams.
All were deemed both safer than
asbestos and better insulating.
Several other alternatives have become
available including paper cellulose,
sheep’s wool and even recycled cotton.
XPS and PIR/PUR trap blowing agents
in the foam, significantly increasing
their thermal properties compared to
non-blown products.
XPS and PIR/PUR foams have
undergone significant changes in
blowing agent technologies over the
last few decades with a movement
toward more sustainable solutions,
while still achieving enhanced thermal
insulation properties.
As new technologies are evaluated,
many variables associated with
geographic and socio-economic
factors will need to be considered and
the focus on overall energy efficiency–
Life Cycle Climate Performance
(LCCP), should be a key element in
this effort.
Although refrigeration, air conditioning
and thermal insulation are by far
the largest markets, other critical
applications also converted from
CFCs to alternatives. These include:
technical aerosols, metered dose
inhalers and solvents.
The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
5
History of refrigerants >
1900s + earlier
CO2, HCs, and ammonia
1920s
1910s
1930s
1940s
1960s
1950s
1970s
1980s
2000s
1990s
development of CFCs
HCFC-22 invented
concerns for ozone depletion grows
Re-emergence of HCs, CO2
2010s
development of HFOs
HCFCs enable CFC reduction
HFC alternatives commercialized
making responsible progress >
A responsive
industry
A respected
voice
Industry has proven to be consistently responsive to
the global challenge of lowering environmental impact
while maintaining and enhancing product safety,
reliability, energy efficiency, and consumer benefit.
Through its participation in the the Montreal Protocol, the Alliance and its
members succeeded in ensuring an appropriate and responsible global
phasedown of ozone-depleting CFCs while catalyzing the development of safe,
efficient non-ozone depleting alternatives.
The technical achievements of producing
more environmentally sound compounds
while still maintaining high safety and
efficiency standards are significant.
It is important to note that the global
phasedowns of existing compounds were
initiated only after suitable alternatives
had been developed and rigorously tested.
Enacting policies to restrict use of existing
compounds before safe, efficient alternatives
are available could force nations to choose
technologies and build infrastructure illsuited for their specific needs, introducing
safety concerns, unreasonably high cost, and
the potential for an overall increase in GHG
emissions.
Furthermore, the success of Industry in
lowering environmental impact has been
achieved not solely through the development
of new compounds with lower Ozone Depletion
Potentials (ODPs) and Global Warming
Potentials (GWPs), but equally, if not more
importantly, through spearheading the
development of policies that specify best
practices for the proper usage and handling of
these compounds throughout their lifecycle
including reuse, recycling, and reclamation.
Industry strongly supports refrigerant reuse
through responsible recovery, recycling, and
reclamation programs, thereby minimizing
new fluid requirements and maximizing fluid
choice. Flexibility in fluid choice maximizes
energy efficiency, minimizes environmental
impacts, and enhances safety.
The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
7
responsible use
Equipment Requirements
Fluid Requirements
Contain all refrigerants in tight systems
and containers minimizing releases
Recover, recycle and reclaim where
chemical properties allow safety
Size equipment to match specific needs
Train personnel in proper chemical
handling, leak repair and recovery/
recycling/reclamation
Minimize refrigerant amount without
sacrificing performance
Design, install and operate to optimize
energy efficiency
Leak test new installations
Monitor application performance to
minimize operational leaks
Minimize the number of fittings through
which refrigerant flows
Comply with all applicable chemical
standards
Continue to develop alternatives
in all sectors
principles &
Best
Practices
General Principles
Provide technically feasible insulation products with favorable LCCP
Promote technology and processes that provide financially
sound societal investments
Minimize manufacturing emissions using best available,
affordable technology
Minimize losses during container filling
Ensure worker and community safety
Comply with all transportation regulations
Design plants and facilities with a goal of zero fugitive emissions
Minimize all byproduct formation and emissions cost-effectively
Hold management accountable for potential safety, health
and environmental impact
The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
9
Choosing Your Compound
While important, the GWP of a compound
is just one small piece of a much larger,
more complex system that ultimately
determines its environmental impact.
To accurately judge impact,
therefore, it is essential to use
a metric in which the totality
of a compound’s
life cycle is considered.
[ Life Cycle Climate Performance ]
Creation of
Product
Energy
Efficiency
Product
Use/ Re-use
Destruction
LCCP: a
comprehensive
measure
LCCP measures ALL of the elements - both direct and
indirect - that comprise a product's life cycle including
creation, energy efficiency, use, re-use, transportation,
and destruction.
GWP is a measure of only the direct emissions of a compound into the
atmosphere. By significantly reducing charge sizes, tightening systems, reducing
leaks, containing and recovering refrigerants, and conducting other responsible
best practices, there is considerably less direct emissions of these compounds
into the atmosphere. GWP does not take into consideration the large amount of
indirect emissions that occur from compound usage such as the power plant
emissions that are a result of the electrical use of the appliance. Indirect emissions
such as an application's energy usage can contribute as much as 95% of an
appliance's total climate change impact. Therefore, there is a more logical focus on
a number of other elements - especially
energy efficiency - in determining the
selection process of a refrigerant or blowing
agent. Life Cycle Climate Performance (LCCP)
is a proven methodology that incorporates
all of these elements and is critical to
evaluate the performance of refrigeration,
air conditioning, and foam insultation.
LCCP incorporates the impacts of energy
consumption as a result of the refrigerant
choice or foam blowing agent, and emissions
at end of life. Consequently, LCCP gives
policymakers and professionals a clear
picture of the global climate change impact
of a refrigerant.
LCCP is critical in the selection process of a
compound and should be a primary metric
for assessing climate change impact. In
addition, other contributing factors go into
selection of a refrigerant or foam blowing
agent such as availability, cost, and safety.
Studies have shown that compounds with
the lowest cost or GWP often may not be
the best choice for the environment, or
provide the best energy efficiency. Creating
policies based solely on GWP could
increase a society's total greenhouse gas
emissions and its energy consumption.
The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
11
the path
forward
As industry continues to respond to society’s needs, it supports a
stable policy framework for transitioning to new compounds. The
framework should be based on cumulative environmental impact
and lead to orderly transitions that allow sectors adequate time to
develop and implement alternatives.
Industry has demonstrated through the ODS phaseout that it
responds to policymakers’ calls for new developments. Mandating
reductions at a rate faster than technology evolves could result in
societies being forced to choose less-than-optimal alternatives.
But the planning and development cycle is extensive, and, in
many cases, stretches over a decade or more. The development
of successful and appropriate alternatives requires process and
attribute evaluation, including energy efficiency, environmental
impact, toxicity, flammability, and application-specific parameters,
which could include operational pressures, process development
and costs.
The Alliance
for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
Responsible Policy for a Responsive Industry
residential
air conditioning
Societal Importance
Residential air conditioning is essential in today’s society. The increase in global population has produced
an expansion into hotter climates as the need for living space increases. Without air conditioning, this
growth would not be possible. Air conditioning provides comfortable, clean living, and it is critical in
ensuring safe living conditions. In addition, persons with respiratory ailments are now able to endure the
hottest days of summer due to the availability of residential air conditioning.
Critical Application
Considerations
Environmental
Considerations
Air-conditioned homes, which were a luxury
30 years ago are now commonplace in North
America. The air conditioning systems vary
in type from central systems that provide
climate control for an entire home to window
units that are designed to cool only one or
two rooms. Additionally, ductless split systems
are growing in use as an alternative to ducted
systems. Meanwhile in Asia and Australia the
surge in home air conditioning has been even
more robust. With increases in urbanization,
consumer purchasing power and more
widespread and stable power distribution
both continents are witnessing growth rates
of 7-8% annually. It is imperative that the HVAC
industry continues to provide society with the
most appropriate solutions for maintaining
comfortable and clean environments while
also responding to changing environmental
pressure. Also, cost and size considerations
must be taken into account.
Historically, our industry relied mainly on
HCFCs; however, the last decade or more has
witnessed a transition from ozone-depleting
substances (such as HCFC-22) to non-ozonedepleting compounds such as HFC-410A.
Many HFCs have relatively high GWPs and
are now also under regulatory pressure to be
replaced with lower GWP options. However,
the GWP of a refrigerant cannot be the only
measure utilized when developing more
environmentally responsible solutions.
Efficiency of the resulting system can be the
dominant factor affecting total global climate
change impact. Therefore the Life Cycle
Climate Performance (LCCP) of a refrigerant
must be calculated in order to have a true
assessment of a refrigerant’s climatic effect.
Home air conditioning is necessary for many
people. For those with allergies and breathing
issues, air conditioning has become essential
in order to live a comfortable and productive
life. Twenty years ago, those with allergies
would have to endure the high pollen counts
in the spring and late summer. Today they are
able to escape those conditions with the use
of air conditioning.
In addition to working fluid concerns,
technician training on responsible refrigerant
handling practices is needed. Also, many
options are made available for recovering
used refrigerant in the field and returning it for
reclamation and/or destruction.
residential air conditioning
Technology Trends
Today’s homeowners have several options
for air conditioning their homes. Each
solution has its own benefits and advantages.
Also, new system designs go beyond
alternative air handling systems. Over the
past 30 years, manufacturers have increased
energy efficiency by over 50% through
enhanced system and new technologies such
as heat pumps which utilize the earth as a
heat sink.
Window units have been available for over
50 years. The primary use of these units is
for cooling one or two rooms in a house.
Their benefits include affordability and easy
installation. Additionally, the cost of operation
is relatively low. Traditionally, these units
were charged with HCFC-22. However, this
equipment was redesigned to use HFC-410a,
which was commercialized in the early 2000s.
Predominantly the refrigerant used in central
ducted air conditioning and ductless split
systems has been HCFC-22. Currently, this is
being replaced by the non-ozone-depleting
HFC-410a, a blend of HFC-32 and HFC125. Due to its higher operating pressures,
HFC-410a requires new equipment designs
that can operate at these higher pressures.
Additionally, in a retrofit this solution requires
all new equipment and line sets.
The Alliance
for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
2111 Wilson Blvd., 8th Floor
Arlington, VA 22201
USA
P +1 703.243.0344 F +1 703.243.2874
E [email protected]
www.arap.org
The Alliance is an industry coalition that was organized in 1980 to address the issue of
stratospheric ozone depletion. It is presently composed of about 100 manufacturers
and businesses which rely on HCFCs and HFCs.
Today, the Alliance is a leading industry voice that coordinates industry participation
in the development of international and U.S. government policies regarding ozone
protection and climate change.
commercial
air conditioning
Societal Importance
As the world’s growing population dictates the development of all geographic climates, commercial air
conditioning has become essential for health and comfort, work­er productivity and economic vitality.
The economies of many countries throughout the world are directly tied to an ability to cool the air
in commercial buildings. Commercial air conditioning is used in stores, restaurants, schools, offices,
hotels, long-term care facilities, hospitals, and other public places. Even in mild climates, commercial air
conditioning has become a requirement to maintain health, productivity, and comfort.
Critical Application
Considerations
The commercial air conditioning sector
spans a broad range of applications
running from small commercial package
units (air and water source) to larger air
source package units. Air-cooled and
water-cooled chillers using scroll, screw,
and centrifugal compressors in cooling and
heat pump modes are very common. This
broad range of equipment has traditionally
driven multiple refrigerant solutions from high
pressure (scroll compressor applications)
to medium pressure (screw and centrifugal
compressor applications) to low pressure
(centrifugal compressor applications)
solutions. Challenges include balancing a
simultaneous need for reducing size and
cost while maximizing energy efficiency.
Historically, tradeoffs have been made and
continue to be identified when looking
for alternatives to existing HCFCs and
higher GWP HFCs. The service industry is
accustomed to servicing different types of
refrigerants. Therefore, it can accept multiple
refrigerants across this portfolio. In addition,
larger charge sizes for this segment are more
suitable for refrigerant recovery.
Environmental
Considerations
Since commercial air conditioning
equipment uses a significant amount of
energy, environmental concerns include
but go beyond the direct environmental
impacts of the fluid on the climate. These
aspects are important, but the indirect
impact that energy efficiency can have on
climate change is the dominant effect. For
example, heat pumps provide more heating
energy than they use, unlike conventional
direct heating systems. When considering
a Life Cycle Climate Performance (LCCP)
measurement that takes into account both
direct and indirect impacts, one finds that
the indirect impact represents 80-95% of
the total climate change impact across
this sector.
Leak rates can also have an impact on the
direct ozone layer and climate impacts.
Therefore refrigerant technology that can
help minimize refrigerant emissions is also a
key consideration. On a related basis, endof-life recovery and reclamation processes
are an important means towards responsible
refrigerant handling. Safety is an important
attribute that must also be considered when
looking at a balanced environmental solution.
Given the larger charge sizes associated with
equipment in this sector, and the fact that
refrigerant is commonly circulated through
the occupied space, hydrocarbons have seen
very limited use given their high flammability.
commercial air conditioning
Technology Trends
After HCFCs are no longer available, HFCs,
widely used in equipment today, offer a
proven, safe, and energy efficient solution
for commercial air conditioning in a wide
range of equipment from small room air
conditioners to multi-split variable refrigerant
flow (VRF) systems, to large chillers. HFCs
provide efficient cooling in both existing and
new equipment. But the policy pressures on
high GWP compounds mandate a balanced
approach. Considerations such as safety,
energy efficiency, ozone depletion and GWP
are even more important and should guide
choices for retaining appropriate HFCs
and selecting alternatives. There is active
development of new fluids and blends that
offer significant reductions in GWP but
can also be energy efficient, such as HFO1234ze(E) and HFO-1234yf which was initially
designed for the mobile air conditioning
application but has operating pressures and
capacity similar to HFC-134a. In addition,
HFC-32, which comprises 50% of the blend
HFC-410A, is being reconsidered based on
its good energy efficiency and capacity and
its 67% lower GWP when used with scroll
chillers. Some of the new HFOs, HFC-32,
and ammonia are mildly flammable which
requires safety standards to be re-examined
to drive appropriate use of these new fluids.
While the next generation solutions are not
yet identified, the Alliance principles can
help guide the work to select the eventual
alternatives.
The Alliance
for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
2111 Wilson Blvd., 8th Floor
Arlington, VA 22201
USA
P +1 703.243.0344 F +1 703.243.2874
E [email protected]
www.arap.org
The Alliance is an industry coalition that was organized in 1980 to address the issue of
stratospheric ozone depletion. It is presently composed of about 100 manufacturers
and businesses which rely on HCFCs and HFCs.
Today, the Alliance is a leading industry voice that coordinates industry participation
in the development of international and U.S. government policies regarding ozone
protection and climate change.
Household
Appliances
Societal Importance
Throughout the world, household appliances such as refrigerators/freezers, room air conditioners,
portable air conditioners and dehumidifiers are an integral part of today’s home, adding convenience
and comfort to the lives of their owners. Home appliances also are a success story in terms of energy
efficiency and environmental protection. New appliances often represent the most effective choice a
consumer can make to reduce home energy use and costs.
Critical Application
Considerations
Environmental
Considerations
Energy use has been significantly reduced
in major home appliances, while at the same
time features and capacities have increased.
For example, household refrigerators/
freezers provide convenient and safe food
preservation and help improve quality of
life, as well as reducing their impact on the
environment. A typical refrigerator uses 50
percent less energy than 20 years ago, while
its average capacity in the US has grown 20
percent. As these efficiencies have improved,
the need for energy has diminished, helping
to reduce emissions from power plants. The
appliance industry also has moved to cooling
and insulation systems that are much better
for the environment because they are using
non-ozone depleting substances that have
lower global warming impact.
Refrigeration and home comfort products
use refrigerant to remove heat (or water for
dehumidifiers) from the air. Refrigerator/
freezers also have thermal insulation that
uses a “blowing agent” that is used to spray
the foam to provide insulation qualities. Both
refrigerants and blowing agents must be safe,
and energy efficient substances.
In the past, a household refrigerator’s
environmental impact had been principally a
result of energy consumption of the product.
Over the last 20 years, significant gains have
been made in energy efficiency. Today, the
appliance industry is using life cycle climate
performace (LCCP) to evaluate the full
environmental impact of the refrigerator. This
not only takes into consideration its energy
efficiency, but also the chemicals used
in the refrigerant system, foam and foam
blowing agents, manufacturing processes,
performance, durability, and end-of-life
impacts. The appliance industry has joined
with Underwriters Laboratories Environment
and CSA International to develop a set of
sustainability standards for major appliances,
beginning with refrigeration appliances.
Through the use of sustainability standards,
buyers are informed of the impacts on the
environment. Manufacturers can use these
standards to predict the impact of design
changes on the full environmental impact of
the product.
Since the mid-1980s, these household
products have made costly, but
environmentally beneficial transitions
from CFCs, to HCFCs, and then to nonozone-depleting compounds such as HFCs
and very low global warming potential
compounds such as hydrocarbons.
household appliances
Technology Trends
Environmental impact reduction
opportunities exist by improving energy
consumption. This can involve both the quality
of insulation and choice of refrigerant. In
doing this, manufacturers must balance other
environmental factors, such as recyclability,
durability, and safety. Today, there is much
work being done to advance appliances
to the next generation of environmental
and energy efficiency benefits through the
development of “smart” technology. Smart
appliances will be able to receive signals
from the electric grid and automatically
adjust operation to use energy in a more
beneficial way from a system perspective.
Vast amounts of energy could be saved by
reducing electricity losses along congested
transmission and distribution lines, reducing
the number of power plants that will need
to be built, and, most importantly, save the
consumer energy and money.
Tremendous advancements have been
made in the development of new materials
used in refrigeration appliances over
the last few years. Energy efficiency still
remains a key demand driver for the overall
environmental impact. Both the insulating
qualities and the compatibility of chemicals
are critical to providing a safe, reliable, and
long-lived appliance to people around the
world. We continue to look forward with new
refrigerant and foam blowing agent materials.
Refrigerators continue to be one of the most
sought-after appliances in the developing
world. They provide a significant change to
the overall lifestyle allowing families to store
foods at safe temperatures. These products
provide a tremendous economic value for
the individual family and society as a whole.
It is important to continue the development
of materials that are safe, reliable, and
outstanding values for the consumer.
The Alliance
for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
2111 Wilson Blvd., 8th Floor
Arlington, VA 22201
USA
P +1 703.243.0344 F +1 703.243.2874
E [email protected]
www.arap.org
The Alliance is an industry coalition that was organized in 1980 to address the issue of
stratospheric ozone depletion. It is presently composed of about 100 manufacturers
and businesses which rely on HCFCs and HFCs.
Today, the Alliance is a leading industry voice that coordinates industry participation
in the development of international and U.S. government policies regarding ozone
protection and climate change.
commercial
Refrigeration
Societal Importance
Commercial refrigeration preserves and protects food for societies around the world. Globally, studies
show an average of 25% or more of harvested produce never reaches the market because of inadequate
refrigeration. This percentage is often significantly higher in developing countries. Population growth
increases world food production and delivery pressure, necessitating adequate refrigeration to minimize
hunger, famine, and disease.
Critical Application
Considerations
Consumers purchase food from
supermarkets and retail food stores at the
cold chain end. The equipment ranges from
small kiosk-type refrigerator/freezer display
cases to large refrigerated storage rooms.
A large variety of perishable food products
require diverse temperature controls to
maximize shelf-life. As many as seven or
eight different refrigerated storage areas
may be required. However, equipment
manufacturers must practically limit product
offerings and operating temperatures may
be compromised.
Fruits and vegetables typically use water
spray systems to keep humidity high and
sustain appropriate wet bulb temperatures
Environmental
Considerations
Commercial refrigeration has undergone the
transition from CFCs to HCFCs, and more
recently to HFCs. Now, lower climate impact
solutions are beginning to be employed.
System efficiency and effectiveness are
also critical and require LCCP approaches.
Historically supermarket systems have been
criticized for high leak rates. More recently,
since they are intolerant to low temperatures
and low humidity. Meat, milk and dairy
products are stored near the freezing point
with minimal humidity. Fish are kept on
ice and are separated to avoid smell and
taste contamination. Ice cream requires the
lowest temperatures (-23°C/-11°F) to prevent
crystallization and softening.
Display cases distributed throughout a
modern supermarket present significant
equipment and servicing challenges. Central
systems circulate refrigerant throughout the
store to remote units. Many connections and
coils can make leak control difficult. System
reliability and serviceability are essential to
prevent food spoilage costs.
manufacturers have made significant design
improvements to reduce leaks throughout
equipment life. Innovative charge minimizing
designs and configurations, leak-resistant
fittings and an emphasis on preventative
maintenance have all resulted in lower
average emissions and higher recovery rates.
commercial refrigeration
Technology Trends
Traditionally, supermarket refrigeration
equipment used a central system connected
to remote display cases, walk-in refrigerators
and freezers or self-contained display
cases. Newer distributed equipment place
refrigeration compressors and components
closer to cases or walk-in refrigerator/
freezers, thereby eliminating lengthy tubes
of refrigerant. Indirect systems use a primary
refrigerant to cool a secondary fluid, which
circulates through cases or equipment coils.
In each case, the choice of refrigerant will
depend on the specific requirements of the
application.
Looking Forward
Currently, HFC-134a, HFC-404A and R-507
are the most common refrigerants in
commercial refrigeration. As pressure to
reduce GWP is recognized, there has been
an increased use of hydrocarbons, carbon
dioxide and even ammonia in certain
markets. Experience shows that with a
suitable emphasis on minimizing safety risks
and effective training of service personnel,
this can be done with considerable success.
HFOs, alone or in blends with HFCs, have
the potential to maintain high efficiency with
lower direct global warming impact. However,
broad commercialization, of such equipment
is probably several years away. It is important
that equipment designers have access to a
broad choice of working fluids to optimize
energy efficiency, safety, affordability, and
sustainability.
Manufacturers of commercial refrigeration
systems have also improved the energy
efficiency of equipment by using variable
speed compressors, fans and pumps with
improved efficiency, low energy lighting
(LEDs), night curtains and doors, among
other enhancements. These improvements
have been embraced by store owners and
customers.
The commercial refrigeration industry
is committed to providing products that
preserve the world’s food chain in the most
safe and sustainable manner possible. While
providing cooling for very diverse storage
conditions, manufacturers have focused on
minimizing the environmental impact of their
equipment through minimizing leaks and
improving energy efficiency through recent
design improvements. As climate concerns
require lower GWP options, this industry will
employ a variety of refrigerant solutions while
maintaining a high level of energy efficiency in
its products.
The Alliance
for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
2111 Wilson Blvd., 8th Floor
Arlington, VA 22201
USA
P +1 703.243.0344 F +1 703.243.2874
E [email protected]
www.arap.org
The Alliance is an industry coalition that was organized in 1980 to address the issue of
stratospheric ozone depletion. It is presently composed of about 100 manufacturers
and businesses which rely on HCFCs and HFCs.
Today, the Alliance is a leading industry voice that coordinates industry participation
in the development of international and U.S. government policies regarding ozone
protection and climate change.
foam
insulation
Societal Importance
Growth in thermal insulation foams continues to be driven by increasing energy efficiency requirements
in appliances, transport applications, and buildings. Buildings (as an example) account for over 40% of the
world’s total primary energy consumption and 24% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions1. One of the
more effective strategies to lower energy consumption and improve energy efficiency is to increase the
use of thermal insulation2,3.
Polyurethane (PU) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) foams and other types of foam insulation products
are used to attain high energy efficiency in buildings while reducing CO2-equivalent emissions from the
building heating and cooling. These insulation products utilize “foaming agents” or “blowing agents”
to create the “cell size” within a given insulation product and it is this cell structure that delivers the
insulating value of the foam. There are 16 major types of insulating foams produced globally that are
primarily used for appliance insulation, residential and commercial building insulation, and specialty
applications such as refrigerated storage, transport, and pipe insulation.
Critical Application
Considerations
In a 2007 McKinsey study that analyzed
the cost vs. the benefit of potential
programs that will save greenhouse gases,
“building insulation” ranks as one of the
best opportunities for abatement. Foam
insulation is one of the key contributors for
this because of its unique attributes. The
results show that while manufacturing foam
insulation consumes energy, the energy
saved far exceeds HFC manufacturing energy
consumed, plus the direct blowing agent
contribution.
Energy efficiency in buildings is heavily
influenced by the choice of blowing agent.
For example, non-ozone-depleting HFCs can
currently produce 10%-100% more efficient
foams compared to other materials at the
same mass and thickness. HFCs are manmade chemicals that were mainly developed
as alternatives to ozone-depleting substances
and are used as foam expansion agents
(FEAs). Insulation materials utilizing HFC
technology are high performance products
that exhibit significant insulation (or R) values
per thickness, thus providing cost-effective
solutions to the building industry as it looks to
substantially increase the energy efficiency of
both new and existing buildings.
foam insulation
Environmental
Considerations
The current landscape of technology choices
is complex and is dependent upon the
specific foam insulation sector, regional
climate differences, availability of technology,
and many other variables.
Solely using GWP as selection criteria for
foam blowing agents could lead to the
selection of alternative technologies that
provide a reduced R-value and over time
would result in more GHG emissions than
would be emitted from the foam insulation
itself. In other cases, alternatives may have
properties that would preclude their use in
certain applications. Based on these factors
(among others) energy efficiency needs
based on a Life Cycle Climate Performance
(LCCP) approach should be a primary driver
in determining the most appropriate foam
technology options as there continues to
be pressure to improve the overall thermal
performance of foams across multiple use
sectors.
Technology Trends
As of 2010, HCFC phaseout was virtually
complete in all developed countries and
HFCs have made this transition possible
without the loss of thermal performance
in buildings or appliances. While efforts
continue to evaluate potential alternatives,
these need to be balanced against the
resources used to complete the most recent
transition(s) as these evaluations will take time
and additional resources associated with a
demanding product range and a variety of
manufacturing processes.
Although hydrocarbons continue to be the
primary solution in several applications in
developed countries, there is increasing
pressure in several application sectors to
further optimize the foaming agent technology
by blending multiple technologies. In
developing countries, decisions need to be
made to meet HCFC phaseout management
plan initiatives. Within several sectors,
previously identified low-GWP alternatives to
HCFCs have yet to be fully validated and/or
will require a significant transition investment.
Looking Forward
There continues to be a need to characterize
the performance of foams made from
low-GWP alternatives in a wide range of
applications. This is an on-going exercise,
but is particularly important for technologies
that do not have a significant use history. Key
drivers in this effort will continue to be both
regulatory and socio-economic across both
developed and developing countries.
As new lower GWP foaming agent
technologies continue to be evaluated, HFCs
will continue to be a key contributor toward
energy efficiency goals in the near- to
medium- term. Any future transitions to new
technologies need to take into account the
time, costs, and other resources associated
with an industry conversion that would need
to occur without compromising current energy
efficiency performance.
1 “Promoting Energy Efficiency Investments — Case Studies in the Residential Sector”, IEA (International Energy Agency), 2008. ISBN
978-92-64-04214-8: 15.
2 “Innovations for Greenhouse Gas Reductions – A life cycle quantification of carbon abatement solutions enabled by the chemical
industry”, ICCA (International Council of Chemical Associations). 2009. Available at: www.icca-chem.org/ICCADocs/ICCA_A4_LR.pdf.
3 “The Carbon Productivity Challenge: Curbing climate change and sustaining economic growth”, McKinsey Global Institute, 2008.
Available at: www.mckinsey.com/locations/swiss/news_publications/pdf/mgi_carbon_productivity_challenge_report.pdf
The Alliance
for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
2111 Wilson Blvd., 8th Floor
Arlington, VA 22201
USA
P +1 703.243.0344 F +1 703.243.2874
E [email protected]
www.arap.org
The Alliance is an industry coalition that was organized in 1980 to address the issue of
stratospheric ozone depletion. It is presently composed of about 100 manufacturers
and businesses which rely on HCFCs and HFCs.
Today, the Alliance is a leading industry voice that coordinates industry participation
in the development of international and U.S. government policies regarding ozone
protection and climate change.
mobile
air conditioning
Societal Importance
Mobile air conditioning is an important part of an integrated system that provides cooling, heating,
defrosting, demisting, air filtering and humidity control for both passenger comfort and vehicle safety.
Its reliability and convenience are often taken for granted but it is the key to keeping passengers safe and
comfortable in more than 600 million vehicles worldwide.
Critical Application
Considerations
Mobile air conditioning presents a severe
test for systems and refrigerants. The
system will operate for many years under
widely varying weather conditions, even
though it is exposed to hostile environments
and is subject to vibration and temperature
variations under the hood. It is desirable to
have relatively rapid cool-down. It is important
that the load on the engine is minimized to
avoid an excessive carbon footprint from
operating power demand. Because of the
vibrations and adverse conditions, leakage
has been historically high, but it has been
reduced by tightening the systems. To further
reduce direct impacts on the climate, there
has been consideration of new refrigerant
options with a lower GWP.
The European Union, in Directive 2006/40/EC,
mandated new auto air conditioning systems
to use a refrigerant with a GWP of 150 or less
in new car platforms beginning in 2011 and
a full transition of new equipment to such
alternatives by 2017. To accomplish this, three
major options were developed for this
application. These included CO2, HFC-152a
and a newly introduced unsaturated
compound known as HFO-1234yf. HFO-1234yf
has an atmospheric lifetime of only 11 days
and a GWP of 4 versus 1430, the GWP of
HFC-134a. It exhibits energy efficiency equal
to that of HFC-134a. Use of this low GWP
option will greatly reduce the carbon footprint
for use in mobile air conditioning.
Environmental
Considerations
New refrigerant options included HFC-152a,
HFO-1234yf, and CO2. Each presents
additional environmental concerns and
technological challenges. The most important
factors in choosing the optimum system are
energy efficiency, safety, and Life Cycle
Climate Performance (LCCP).
The LCCP for CO2 systems was found to
be more competitive under lower ambient
temperature conditions but did not provide
energy efficient cooling in hotter climates
where air conditioning demand is most
stringent. Several automobile manufacturers
are planning transitions to HFO-1234yf
systems. Use of this system is viewed as
near drop-in. Some may still be considering
CO2. Some manufacturers are considering
hydrocarbons which provide energy efficient
cooling but introduce costly safety challenges
and complexity for their successful use.
A cooperative study under the auspices of
US EPA, Mobile Air Conditioning Society
(MACS), and Japan Automobile Manufacturers
Association (JAMA), utilizing the holistic metric
of LCCP found that HFO-1234yf was the best
performing option in all four selected climate
regions: Frankfurt, Tokyo, Athens and Phoenix.
mobile air conditioning
Technology Trends
Mobile air conditioning has been one of the
most visible and successful applications
where environmental improvements have
been demonstrated and implemented.
Initially the commonly used refrigerant was
CFC-12 which was completely eliminated
in new vehicle use during the early- to mid1990s. The replacement HFC-134a was a zero
ODP option with a GWP about one sixth that
of CFC-12 resulting in far reduced climate
change impact. Studies indicated that a
50% reduction in refrigerant losses could
be achieved with only a small additional
investment in improved seals, hoses and
practices which illustrated a potential to
reduce leakage to the environment. Finally,
manufacturers improved the systems to
allow charge sizes to be smaller that further
reduced HFC-134a climate impact.
Based on cooperative test results, plans
and investments, the current view is that
HFO-1234yf will serve as a major alternative
refrigerant to HFC-134a. The industry will
continue to examine how best to use HFO1234yf while at the same time be open to
other alternatives and technologies. The
metrics will continue to be LCCP, cost, safety
and efficacy.
SOURCES
Technical Options for Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning Systems, S. O. Andersen, W. Atkinson, J. A. Baker, S. Oulouhojian, and
J. E. Phillips: Society of Automotive Engineers, www.sae.org
Nielsen, O. J. et. al, (2007) “Atmospheric Chemistry of CF3CF=CH2,: Kinetics and Mechanisms of Gas-phase Reactions with
Cl Atoms, OH Radicals and O3”, Chemical Physics Letters 439, pp. 18-22.
ASHRAE Standard 34 and ISO817
JAMA / JAPIA Consortium Presentation,
VDA Winter Meeting Feb 13-14, 2008 Saalfelden, Austria
H. Eustice (GM), 2008 SAE Alternative Refrigerant System Symposium, Phoenix June 10-12.
T. Ikegami, K. Inui, K. Aoki (JAMA), 2008 SAE Alternative Refrigerant System Symposium,
Phoenix June 10-12.
Hyundai-Kia Presentation, 2008 SAE Alternative Refrigerant System Symposium, Phoenix June 10-12.
Stella Papasavva, William R. Hill, MAC Workshop
Shanghai, China, November 23-25, 2008
JAMA/Japia Consortium Presentation, VDA Winter Meeting Feb 13-14, 2008, Saalfelden, Austria
Alternative Refrigerant System Symposium SAE Conference, June, 2009, Phoenix, AZ
Hoffpauir, MACS President, Action, May, 2005
The Alliance
for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
2111 Wilson Blvd., 8th Floor
Arlington, VA 22201
USA
P +1 703.243.0344 F +1 703.243.2874
E [email protected]
www.arap.org
The Alliance is an industry coalition that was organized in 1980 to address the issue of
stratospheric ozone depletion. It is presently composed of about 100 manufacturers
and businesses which rely on HCFCs and HFCs.
Today, the Alliance is a leading industry voice that coordinates industry participation
in the development of international and U.S. government policies regarding ozone
protection and climate change.
transport
refrigeration
Societal Importance
Transport refrigeration is essential in today’s society to preserve and protect food, pharmaceuticals and
medical supplies for people worldwide. It includes transport of refrigerated products with reefer ships,
intermodal refrigerated containers, refrigerated railcars and road transport including trailers, diesel
trucks and small trucks. While the use of transport refrigeration is fairly mature in developed countries, it
remains at the early stages of use in many developing countries and is a necessary part of a solution to
the problem of high food spoilage rates. Spoilage rates of 25% and higher are found in a number of
developing countries and improvement is not anticipated without introduction of a strong “cold chain” of
commercial and transport refrigeration of products from the “farm to the table.”
Critical Application
Considerations
To achieve accurate, cost-effective
temperature control of commodities and
maximum product quality under all operating
conditions, the refrigerant selection, foam
blowing agent, refrigeration system design,
materials and operating methods are critical.
Transport refrigeration equipment is extremely
complex and must be capable of operating
efficiently in exterior temperatures that range
from -40°C to 55°C while maintaining precise
internal temperatures that range from -40°C
to 30°C. Under extreme ambient operating
conditions, it is especially important that
the refrigerant discharge pressures and
temperatures remain within safe operating
limits. HFC foam blowing agents are effective
at maintaining these conditions and are
currently 10% to 100% more efficient than
compared to other materials at the same
mass and thickness.
Refrigerants such as HFCs, and CO2 in
some applications, satisfy these conditions
and stringent safety requirements, while
simultaneously meeting customer control
requirements. Refrigerants for this sector
must have proven levels of reliability and
a trained service network, which most
effectively manages a strong “cold chain”
ensuring that food, drugs and other products
that require refrigeration reach their
destination without deterioration, and do not
endanger public health. There are important safety considerations
that affect refrigerant selection. Transport
refrigeration equipment must be serviced
worldwide. Flammable refrigerant introduction
presents significant problems for the service
technicians who are accustomed to working
with non-flammable refrigerants, and may be
a particular problem in developing countries.
Extensive training in safe handling practices
for both the equipment and use of flammable
refrigerants is required. In addition, container
units may be placed inside a ship’s hull where
a potentially concentrated refrigerant leak
could lead to a significant increase in the
risk of a fire if that refrigerant is flammable.
It would be very difficult to eliminate all
ignition sources from all areas where these
refrigeration systems are used.
Power for transport refrigeration units typically
comes from dedicated diesel units or from
electricity generated from the primary diesel
engine of the truck.
transport refrigeration
Environmental
Considerations
While a refrigerant can impact the
environment directly through its ozone
depletion potential and its direct global
warming potential, it can also impact the
environment indirectly through its ability
to deliver energy efficiency, which can
increase or reduce fuel (typically diesel
in transport refrigeration). The direct
environmental impact of the refrigerant
occurs only upon release to the atmosphere,
so leak reduction is important. From a Life
Cycle Climate Performance perspective, the
majority of climate change impact will come
from the indirect effect (energy efficiency) so
this element must remain a major focus for
any transition toward a lower GWP fluid.
Technology Trends
HFCs remain the primary solution in today’s
applications when all factors are considered,
along with recent technology introductions
for carbon dioxide in marine container
applications and in certain trailer and truck
applications in some regions. Ammonia and
hydrocarbons are being used to a lesser
extent.
The Alliance
for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
2111 Wilson Blvd., 8th Floor
Arlington, VA 22201
USA
P +1 703.243.0344 F +1 703.243.2874
E [email protected]
www.arap.org
The Alliance is an industry coalition that was organized in 1980 to address the issue of
stratospheric ozone depletion. It is presently composed of about 100 manufacturers
and businesses which rely on HCFCs and HFCs.
Today, the Alliance is a leading industry voice that coordinates industry participation
in the development of international and U.S. government policies regarding ozone
protection and climate change.
metered dose
inhalers
Societal Importance
Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) are pressurized, hand-held devices that use propellants to deliver doses of
medication to the lungs of a patient. MDIs and the medicines they deliver are critically important to public
health and play a particularly significant role in treating respiratory illnesses such as asthma and chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Stringent technical and performance criteria must be met (e.g., low
toxicity) in order for a propellant to be deemed safe for patient use.
Critical Application
Considerations
HFCs are the solely available medical
propellants that have been demonstrated
to be safe and effective for patients. No
alternatives have been identified. Therefore
it is critical to ensure that HFCs remain
available to meet public health needs.
Asthma is a disease of the lungs and airways
with symptoms of breathlessness, tightness
of the chest, wheezing and cough. It is a
chronic condition and frequently impacts
individuals beginning in childhood and
continuing throughout their lives. Asthma
varies in severity from very mild to severe, and
can be life-threatening. With proper, ongoing
treatment asthma can be well-managed, and
serious complications prevented. Asthma
currently affects more than 300 million people
worldwide. COPD, such as emphysema and
chronic bronchitis, are progressive diseases
and while the symptoms can be managed, the
diseases are generally irreversible and often
lead to premature death. COPD also impacts
hundreds of millions of individuals globally
and is currently the fourth leading cause of
death worldwide.
Inhaled therapy is the mainstay of treatment
for asthma and COPD. Inhalers deliver
drugs directly to the lungs enhancing the
symptomatic benefit and minimizing side
effects. In addition to MDIs, dry powder
inhalers (DPIs) are also inhalation devices
used to treat asthma and COPD. It is
important to note that not all devices are
compatible with all drug products, or suitable
for all patients. Selecting a therapy for a
patient, including choosing a device, is a
complex process driven primarily by the
physician and patient. It is imperative to
preserve a range of therapeutic options for
patients. The Medical Technical Options
Committee (MTOC) under the Montreal
Protocol noted that “no single delivery
system is considered universally acceptable
for all patients” and “any consideration of
policy measures to control HFCs should
carefully assess patient health implications
with the goals of ensuring patient health and
maintaining a range of therapeutic options.”
The MTOC also recognized that “each country
has its own unique and complex makeup in
terms of availability of medicines, overarching
health care systems, and patient preferences.”
metered dose inhalers
Environmental
Considerations
Technology Trends
For decades, CFC-based MDIs served as
the “gold standard” inhalation treatment
for patients with asthma and COPD
illnesses. In response to the mandates
of the Montreal Protocol, pharmaceutical
manufacturers undertook an exhaustive
search for chemically, environmentally,
and medically suitable alternative to CFCs.
Once HFCs emerged as the single viable
alternative medical propellant, companies
jointly conducted multi-year pre-clinical
safety testing programs. In parallel, individual
companies embarked on lengthy, resourceintensive efforts to research and develop
HFC-based alternatives to their specific CFC
MDI formulations. Reformulating MDIs with
HFCs was an enormously complex and timeconsuming effort. Most CFC MDI components
proved incompatible with HFCs and had to
be newly engineered. Each new HFC MDI
was required to undergo the rigorous testing,
regulatory review, and an approval process
associated with researching and developing
wholly new drug products. The challenging
transition to CFC-free alternatives was an
unprecedented and resource-intensive
undertaking impacting millions of patients
and their health care providers.
No alternative medical propellant to HFCs
currently exists. Medical propellants must
be very low in toxicity and must also meet
several other stringent criteria, including nonflammability, chemical stability, appropriate
solvency and density, and acceptable smell
and taste. The industry concurs with the
MTOC’s assessment that “for a new propellant
development programme, there is major risk,
significant investment, and no guarantee
of success.” The MTOC also appropriately
recognized the reality that for existing MDIs
there would be “limited benefit to patients”
given that the “active ingredient will remain
the same and the performance characteristics
are likely to be comparable to saturated
HFCs.” Therefore, pharmaceutical-grade
HFCs must remain readily available to meet
patient need for MDIs.
The use of HFCs in MDIs is quite small, as
compared to other sectors (estimated at
approximately 2-3% of overall global HFC
usage). HFC MDIs have approximately 8 times
less climate impact than CFC MDIs. The major
impact in reducing global warming potential
with respect to MDIs is the completion of the
CFC MDI transition. Sound MDI manufacturing
operations and responsible disposal/
recycling are critical to minimizing HFC
emissions.
The CFC MDI transition is still underway in
several countries, but substantial progress
toward closure of the essential use process
has been achieved in recent years. It is
currently estimated that developing countries
will cease nominating essential use CFCs
for MDIs by 2015-2016 and many countries
around the world have already completed
their transition. It is critical that the transition
to HFC MDIs and other CFC-free alternatives
proceed toward closure without questions or
concerns regarding the long-term availability
of pharmaceutical-grade HFCs.
The Alliance
for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
2111 Wilson Blvd., 8th Floor
Arlington, VA 22201
USA
P +1 703.243.0344 F +1 703.243.2874
E [email protected]
www.arap.org
The Alliance is an industry coalition that was organized in 1980 to address the issue of
stratospheric ozone depletion. It is presently composed of about 100 manufacturers
and businesses which rely on HCFCs and HFCs.
Today, the Alliance is a leading industry voice that coordinates industry participation
in the development of international and U.S. government policies regarding ozone
protection and climate change.
Aerosols
Societal Importance
Nearly 95% of all aerosols do not use fluorocarbons. Flammability, pressure, safety, and efficacy make
fluorocarbons uniquely suited for certain applications such as safety horns, lubricants, and technical
aerosols. Many products that consumers depend on today can only be effectively delivered from an
aerosol package.
Critical Application
Considerations
Aerosol packaging is chosen for a variety
of reasons. Most significant is safety since
aerosols are sanitary and tamper resistant.
Aerosol products are also efficient and easy
to use. There is no evaporation, deterioration,
or contamination of the contents. In addition,
the ingredients do not need to be mixed
separately before use, they are spill-proof,
and aerosols can be used to effectively target
a specific area. Because of their unique
delivery system, aerosols are efficient at using
100% of the contents of the can, leaving no
waste. Some products are not available in any
other form such as shaving foams, silicone
sprays, expanding packaging foams, and
surgical sutures.
Environmental
Considerations
In the US today, the predominant propellants
used in aerosols are hydrocarbons.
These, paired with carbon dioxide and
nitrogen, account for nearly 95% of all
aerosol propellants. The preponderance
of the remaining products use HFCs as
propellants, which are chosen for their distinct
and specialized performance properties.
Specifically, HFCs used in consumer products
are either non-flammable (HFC-134a), or are
much less flammable than hydrocarbons
(HFC-152a). Both are low in toxicity, and are
not volatile organic compounds (VOCs). All
of the current aerosol propellants used in
the US are non-ozone depleting, and were
chosen as replacements for CFCs and
HCFCs, which were phased out for use in
the US under the Montreal Protocol. Total
HFCs used as propellants account for less
than 0.2% of US total global climate change
emissions. HFC-152a has a very low global
warming potential (GWP) and can be used
safely in many consumer products, while
HFC-134a, with a higher GWP, is used in a
small percentage of technical aerosols where
a completely non-flammable propellant is
necessary, such as tire inflators, marine signal
horns, and mold release sprays.
aerosols
Technology Trends
Recently, HFC-134a had been the only nonflammable liquefied propellant available.
However, the US EPA has approved a newly
invented compound, HFO-1234ze, which can
be used in many similar applications. This
new propellant has an extremely low GWP, is
non-flammable, and is not a VOC. In addition,
it has very low conversion costs, which may
make it a viable replacement for HFC-134a in
certain aerosol products.
The Alliance
for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
2111 Wilson Blvd., 8th Floor
Arlington, VA 22201
USA
P +1 703.243.0344 F +1 703.243.2874
E [email protected]
www.arap.org
The Alliance is an industry coalition that was organized in 1980 to address the issue of
stratospheric ozone depletion. It is presently composed of about 100 manufacturers
and businesses which rely on HCFCs and HFCs.
Today, the Alliance is a leading industry voice that coordinates industry participation
in the development of international and U.S. government policies regarding ozone
protection and climate change.